Jennifer at Epworth's Blog (6)

Yes, since Friday. And that is really how I feel!



Page xxi in the Introduction, Gail shares a story about a woman who ended an 11 year relationship when she realized that it was holding her back and weighing her down. I loved the story, but I didn't feel the resonance in my own life. My response was "Good for her!" I realize I was like the frog swimming in a lovely stainless steel pond. Unbeknownst to the frog and me the flame had been ignited under the kettle. Just like the frog, I… Continue

This week has been particularly onerous; professional work subsumed everything. Sometimes in life there are tasks, people, etc. that jealously require/demand undivided attention. My needs and wants went on a back burner, which has become a reoccurring theme in my life. But, for the first time I fought to keep a vision actively and consciously present. I wanted to return to, and resume, my vision of serenity that only de-cluttering can provide. My touchstone throughout this professional (and the… Continue

The children were gathered at the front examining an array of spray bottles. "What are these for?" asked Mrs. G. "Cleaning!" they all piped up. "And what time of year is it?" asked Mrs. G. "SPRING!" they exclaimed. "Yes, there are some people who use this time of year to clean, organize, and staighten their homes to make things anew." "What else is going on at this time of year in the church calendar?" "Lent." said J. (Gotta love J !) "What do these bottles and Lent have in common?"… Continue

Yes, it was only day 2 when I felt the whine first coming on...

But, I'm working 6+ days a week, I'm not going to be home until after 8:30 pm this evening, surely missing one day...

I'm sure this has never happened to you.



I made a deal with myself, the goal was one sock drawer before bedtime. That one task led into emptying all of my drawers in the bedroom (and the hope-chest) last night. By bedtime I had a bag of trash, a bag to donate, and a bag of rags.



You… Continue

Maybe I should have picked a smaller task, like the sock drawer... But the vision of actually finding things sustained me. It was incredibly difficult to toss those first few extremely tangled (or broken) chains; and these were the cheep stuff! The jewelry box had become a "catch all." I found a Christmas ornament, baby silverware, & a stain glass window medallion; the most unusual item was a buffalo tooth gained through a Girl Scout Swap exchange dating back to my years in middle… Continue

I was looking for my Girl Scout pins in "The Jewelry Box" on Sunday morning before church. It was Scout Sunday and I wanted to share the day with the other current and "heritage" scouts. It took me 20 minutes to find where they were. The attempt to organize this behemoth container of pins, earrings, necklaces, etc years ago was somewhat helpful, but clearly inadequate. The truth, and you can ask anyone who knows me, is that I RARELY wear jewelry. For the absolutely most formal occasions, I love… Continue